Comparing the Blackland Dart

These comparison shaves have been awesome, Andrew linuxguile!

I have the iKon 104 Tech and also find it to be the most aggressive razor I've ever used. This is one razor where, even with the lightest touch, I feel as though I'm still right on the "edge." I can manage a decent shave, but wow talk about blade feel!

Thanks for these reviews, and to andrewjs18 for making the R41 and Ikon Tech comparisons possible. I'm finding it interesting as the R41 and Tech were on my short list around this time 3 years when I was making my pre-wetshaving short list of DE razors to begin with. But I started off with a Merkur 39C as I thought it would be a more comfortable, safer choice.

I liked the 39C but a few months in, as I was spending a lot of time doing ATG-and-all-direction buffing every morning in order to get smooth and because I need to have a close shave due to fast growth, I bought a Fatip Piccolo thinking that might save me some time & efffort. I found it to be more forgiving to use than the 39C (with my still young technique, weepers were still a thing) but disappointingly, it was not quite as efficient and my BBSness not as long lasting. Later, I picked up a few more DE razors then considered buying a Roedter 1909, which I heard was basically a more-aggressive-than-usual Piccolo, thanks to a production flaw (a ground-too-narrow cap, it was believed). Instead, I just ground my Piccolo's cap down a few mm to give it similar blade exposure. The result was initially disappointing (perhaps it was the blade, a Voskhod... ugh!) so I fabricated and added a relatively thick shim out of aluminum. Hmmmm, a ton of blade feel but still had to work at it to get smooth. I then got a Nanjie TTO for free off eBay when a seller screwed up and shipped those instead of a Mingshi... and wow, a surprise the Nanjie was: while many people said they tossed them upon sight because they were so cheap and poorly made, after grinding some sharp edges and fixing the T-bar doors so they'd actually open and close as intended, I shaved with mine and I have to say the efficiency of the Nanjie TTO's WTG pass is SUPREME, unrivalled among any razor I own. It is uncanny how close it can do that pass. And it's comfortable too. But strangely, perhaps, it does not do ATG so well, and it is somewhat harsh, leaving me with a bit/bit more of alum sting. That's probably due to the weak clamping, uneven blade gap and wavy safety bar. Nonetheless, if I'm in a hurry to get out the door, I can do a 1-pass shave with the Nanjie and be happy(ish) - which is something I can't do with any other razor I've tried, including my straights. That said, I typically want full all-direction BBS, so an efficient 2-pass shave is my goal. Today, I randomly rotate through everything but the 39C is the razor I reach for most often as with good technique it provides me the smoothest, most comfortable 2-pass+ shaves. But I'm still hunting...

Anyhow, that was a long way of asking: linuxguile, or anyone else who has tried the Dart, the R41 or the Ikon Tech, have you ever tried the Nanjie TTO? If so, how does it compare?

Thanks for these reviews, and to andrewjs18 for making the R41 and Ikon Tech comparisons possible. I'm finding it interesting as the R41 and Tech were on my short list around this time 3 years when I was making my pre-wetshaving short list of DE razors to begin with. But I started off with a Merkur 39C as I thought it would be a more comfortable, safer choice.

I liked the 39C but a few months in, as I was spending a lot of time doing ATG-and-all-direction buffing every morning in order to get smooth and because I need to have a close shave due to fast growth, I bought a Fatip Piccolo thinking that might save me some time & efffort. I found it to be more forgiving to use than the 39C (with my still young technique, weepers were still a thing) but disappointingly, it was not quite as efficient and my BBSness not as long lasting. Later, I picked up a few more DE razors then considered buying a Roedter 1909, which I heard was basically a more-aggressive-than-usual Piccolo, thanks to a production flaw (a ground-too-narrow cap, it was believed). Instead, I just ground my Piccolo's cap down a few mm to give it similar blade exposure. The result was initially disappointing (perhaps it was the blade, a Voskhod... ugh!) so I fabricated and added a relatively thick shim out of aluminum. Hmmmm, a ton of blade feel but still had to work at it to get smooth. I then got a Nanjie TTO for free off eBay when a seller screwed up and shipped those instead of a Mingshi... and wow, a surprise the Nanjie was: while many people said they tossed them upon sight because they were so cheap and poorly made, after grinding some sharp edges and fixing the T-bar doors so they'd actually open and close as intended, I shaved with mine and I have to say the efficiency of the Nanjie TTO's WTG pass is SUPREME, unrivalled among any razor I own. It is uncanny how close it can do that pass. And it's comfortable too. But strangely, perhaps, it does not do ATG so well, and it is somewhat harsh, leaving me with a bit/bit more of alum sting. That's probably due to the weak clamping, uneven blade gap and wavy safety bar. Nonetheless, if I'm in a hurry to get out the door, I can do a 1-pass shave with the Nanjie and be happy(ish) - which is something I can't do with any other razor I've tried, including my straights. That said, I typically want full all-direction BBS, so an efficient 2-pass shave is my goal. Today, I randomly rotate through everything but the 39C is the razor I reach for most often as with good technique it provides me the smoothest, most comfortable 2-pass+ shaves. But I'm still hunting...

Anyhow, that was a long way of asking: linuxguile, or anyone else who has tried the Dart, the R41 or the Ikon Tech, have you ever tried the Nanjie TTO? If so, how does it compare?

I have three of the Nanjie TTO razors that were sent to me by "accident" when I ordered the Ming Shi adjustable off eBay. I only have shaved once with them, just to prove I could. As you stated they have uneven blade gap, wavy safety bars, and doors that don't close evenly. I also just picked up a couple of Assured razors from the Dollar Tree that remind me a lot of the Nanjie but with perhaps better QC and maybe slightly heaver construction. When I am done with the Ikon Tech I can do a three way comparison with Dart, Nanjie and Assured.





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SOTD NOvember 14th


Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap
Blackland Dart
Ikon Tech
Derby Premium
Stirling Boar (24mm, Frigate Class)
Cella of Hagen Street
Baxter of California Shave Tonic and ASB

Round two of the showdown between the Ikon Tech and the Blackland Dart. New blades in both razors, and a slick creamy lather from the Cella, Jeeves, VdH frankensoap. Today I started with the Dart on the left and the Ikon Tech on the right. Nothing new from The Dart, lots of blade feel but in a controlled manner. I really focused on maintaining the shallowest of angles with the Ikon Tech, which took away most of the harshness, but there was still a couple of times where I let the angle vary a little and could definitely feel the difference. The Ikon Tech is definitely more aggressive (blade feel) then the Dart but I can’t say that is it more efficient. I may be neutering the Tech slightly by using the shallowest angle possible but to shave with it otherwise is rather uncomfortable.

SOTD NOvember 16th


Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap
Ikon Tech
Derby Premium (2)
Yaqi Professional B&W (30mm, Cruiser Class)
Stirling Executive Man
Fine Platinum

For my last "comparison" before sending the Muhle R41 and Ikon Tech back to their owner I decided to do a full shave with the Ikon Tech. Decided to go with Aventus clones today for the lather and AS, LOVE that smokey pineapple accord! Staying super focused on keeping a shallow angle and and light pressure along with shorter strokes took most of the bite out of the Ikon tech. There were still areas like my chin and jawline where the shave was less then comfortable but there was no blood and no irritation to speak of. After two passes I checked my progress and decided that I needed a third pass. After the third pass the baby was in the house. My conclusion after these tests is that while the Ikon Tech is more aggressive the Blackland Dart is more efficient while being less harsh. In the direct comparison between the Dart and the R41 I would say that they are really very similar in both blade feel and efficiency and for those that wish that they make an R41 in stainless steel I would highly recommend taking a look at the Dart.

Thanks for the info ...am interested in the Dart

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